This album could also be called: The Hidden Treasures Of Iron Maiden. I guess it is one of the most underestimated albums of this band, maybe of all I know. But there is more to it than meets the eye (or better the ear) in the first place. Of course it contains 'The Trooper' and 'Flight Of Icarus' which are both well-recognized songs, since they are both live-classics and great studio tunes, but that is far too less to judge the whole album.

Iron Maiden's Piece Of Mind is the first Metal album I remember hearing. I don't know how old I was, but when Nicko McBrain opened up "Where Eagles Dare" with a maelstrom of percussion, I thought it was the most brutal thing in existence. Even now, I still consider it one of Maiden's best (and heaviest) songs. With other classics like "The Trooper" and "Flight of Icarus," Piece Of Mind certainly makes for a an appropriate introduction to the genre.

Unbelievably powerful album. I saw the "Flight of Icarus" music video at my brother's friend's house. Right then I knew I wanted to be a heavy metal bassist.. That was just the coolest thing ever. I can still play "Where Eagles Dare" and "To Tame a Land" on the bass without even thinking about it. The perfect production quality and the melodic guitars just still slay me even to this day when I hear "The Trooper" or "Still Life" or "Revelations" . . Done deal , man. One of the best rock albums ever made, hands down. Masterpiece.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

Still Life is one of my fave songs from the NWOBHM era.

I thought of this album as the one that seperated them from the NWOBHM, and brought them into their proto powermetal era, which would be expanded ont he next 3 albums. But yes, it's a great tune, one of my fave's also.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

Still Life is one of my fave songs from the NWOBHM era.

I thought of this album as the one that seperated them from the NWOBHM, and brought them into their proto powermetal era, which would be expanded ont he next 3 albums. But yes, it's a great tune, one of my fave's also.

THeory wise it doesn't have the all the dual leaders yet and still has tons of the triplets, imo the first Power album they did was Powerslave.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

Still Life is one of my fave songs from the NWOBHM era.

I thought of this album as the one that seperated them from the NWOBHM, and brought them into their proto powermetal era, which would be expanded ont he next 3 albums. But yes, it's a great tune, one of my fave's also.

THeory wise it doesn't have the all the dual leaders yet and still has tons of the triplets, imo the first Power album they did was Powerslave.

Maiden has always had dual guitar leads-Listen to Phantom of the Opera. Hell, that song practically had tripple guitar melody;s with Harris' bass acting as the third guitar. The main riff to The Trooper is also a dual guitar melody. As far as the triplets... I never knew triplets made an album less power metal... Although Powerslave is far more power metal than this album. This was a strong turn in that direction though.

My second favorite Maiden album, behind Somewhere in time. Of course, I think I posted the same ting on the Killer's thread, saying Killer's was my second fave. Well, it's hard to pick when it's a band like this, pumping out classic after classic for 8 years. Where Eagle's Dare, Revelations, Still Life, and To Tame a Land are all classics, that need to be on the band's live sets again. The only song that I'm not fond of is Quest for Fire- But skip that song and you've got 8 great tunes.

Still Life is one of my fave songs from the NWOBHM era.

I thought of this album as the one that seperated them from the NWOBHM, and brought them into their proto powermetal era, which would be expanded ont he next 3 albums. But yes, it's a great tune, one of my fave's also.

THeory wise it doesn't have the all the dual leaders yet and still has tons of the triplets, imo the first Power album they did was Powerslave.

Maiden has always had dual guitar leads-Listen to Phantom of the Opera. Hell, that song practically had tripple guitar melody;s with Harris' bass acting as the third guitar. The main riff to The Trooper is also a dual guitar melody. As far as the triplets... I never knew triplets made an album less power metal... Although Powerslave is far more power metal than this album. This was a strong turn in that direction though.

Yes my point was though that the dual leads were a mere side note until powerslave, and triplets don't make it less power metal, but was extremely common from the beginning for Maiden and toning that down for other riffs was a direction change toward power metal. Very very little difference between Number and Piece if you sit with a guitar and jam out the riffs. Then jam out all the riffs on powerslave, big big difference.

"Piece Of Mind" is IMO the only 80's album with Bruce to contain a filler. ("Quest For Fire") It's still a really strong album though, with many great songs on it.

Maiden (like Judas Priest) were a huge influence on the power metal genre, without ever actually being power metal themselves. The incorporation of speed metal/thrash elements, along with the twin guitar harmonies was what made power metal initially stand out from other genres. Hence why I always class "Walls Of Jericho" and it's preceding EP, as the archetypal power metal album.

Priest were definitely the first real blueprint for genre's like thrash and power metal, mainly due to the injection of speed and aggression in songs like "Tyrant" and "Exciter". Helloween just took that blueprint, and made something unique, by having a harsher, rawer, and even faster sound, and mixing it in with the twin harmonies and melodies. But certainly, Priest's huge influence on power metal can't be denied, and "Exciter" was surely the prototype for speed metal and it's associated genres.

---Top 10 ''Iron Maiden''---
1-.The Trooper
2-.Prowler
3-.Aces High
4-.Wasted Years
5-.Flash Of The Blade
6-.Killers
7-.Run To The Hills
8-.Transylvania
9-.The Number Of The Beast
10-.Hallowed By The Name

BeastOfMetal456 - 26.07.2011 at 02:39

Good album with classics like "The Trooper" and "Flight Of Icarus". Not their best though.

Iron maiden did one hell of a good job following on from 'The number of the beast', and 'POM' can easily match it with 'The trooper' and 'Still life' in terms of classics. A few songs become repetitive, but not so much that it takes away from the intensity of the album as a whole.

Very good album and my very first from the band. I got it for my 15th birthday and have been a huge fan of the band ever since. Even the songs most people don't like I think are really cool and pretty underrated. Quest for Fire actually has an awesome galloping riff, and Bruce's last note sends shivers.

Illog1cal - 03.02.2013 at 01:21

'Revelations','The Trooper' and 'Still Life' stop me from rating this a 7.